BREEAM-NL step-by-step plan: from registration to certificate

Step 1: determine goal and level

Decide what you want to achieve before you start. A rating of Very Good (55%) for rentable office space? Excellent (70%) because an investor sets it as a minimum requirement? Or Outstanding (85%) because you want the project to truly lead?

The target level determines which investments are needed and how much an Expert and Assessor will cost. Start with the end goal and work backwards. If you aim too low, you miss out on tax benefits. If you aim too high without a realistic plan, the process becomes expensive.

Step 2: bring in a BREEAM-NL Expert

A BREEAM-NL Expert is the professional who guides your project. They advise the project team, map out the categories and collect the evidence in the assessment tool. The Expert sits on your side of the table.

See how it works for the difference between an Expert and an Assessor. You can find an Expert through the register at breeam.nl/experts-en-assessoren .

Step 3: register the project with DGBC

After you have chosen a scheme, you register the project with DGBC. For this, you pay a registration deposit of €600 per certificate, which is offset against the final invoice. You can find the rates for 2026 on breeam.nl.

Registration is the official starting point. Only the steps you take after that count towards the assessment.

Step 4: collect evidence per category

The core of the process is collecting evidence. For each credit you want to achieve, you must show that you meet the requirement. The Expert collects that evidence in the assessment tool: calculations, drawings, supplier certificates and measurement reports.

Example: for energy credits, you supply EPC calculations and technical specifications of the installations. For transport credits, you supply a map showing the walking distance to the nearest bus stop.

Missing evidence is the most common reason for delay. Make sure you map out early which documents you need.

Step 5: pre-assessment and design certificate

For the New construction scheme, a pre-assessment takes place halfway through the design phase. The Assessor reviews the evidence at this stage and gives a provisional score. This results in a design certificate.

The design certificate shows which score is achievable based on the plans. It is not final, but it provides certainty to financiers and clients. With In-Use, the assessment takes place in one go; there is no separate design phase.

Step 6: the assessor assesses independently

The Assessor is an independent evaluator. They check whether the evidence is correct and award the credits. The Assessor works for a certified organisation with its own DGBC licence.

Good evidence leads to a smooth assessment. Unclear or incomplete evidence leads to questions and delay. The Expert plays a key role here: they make sure the file is correct before the Assessor receives it.

Step 7: DGBC checks and issues the certificate

After the Assessor has completed the assessment, they send the file to DGBC. DGBC carries out a quality check and issues the final certificate. The certificate states the score, the rating and the scheme.

This is the official proof. For In-Use, the certificate is valid for a maximum of three years. A New construction certificate relates to the completed building.

Step 8: report for tax purposes to the RVO

If you want to qualify for MIA and Vamil, you must report the investment to the RVO (Netherlands Enterprise Agency). That report must be submitted within three months of entering into the investment commitment.